4.4.7.2 Friendly Interaction

Cohesiveness can be increased if there is more interaction between people from different ethnic groups.  This requires effort on everyone’s part:

  • People’s sense of belonging to a society increases as they experience friendliness, solicitude and helpfulness from other people – in addition to the minimum politeness required for socially-acceptable behaviour. Invitations to join in social activities need to be both extended and accepted.  The stronger people’s positive feelings about the society as a whole, beyond their ethnic group, the less likely it is that conflict will emerge.
  • Mixed-faith schools can play a very important role in providing a natural foundation for increased interaction.

People’s practice of socially-acceptable behaviour in friendly interactions reinforces it as a social norm, and people can discourage non-conforming behaviour by their peers.

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